The Defence Headquarters said on Friday that its troops operating in theatres maintained a high tempo of operations throughout February and in the process neutralised scores of terrorists and arrested more than 312 others and criminals.
The troops operations also led to the rescue of over 409 kidnapped victims and the surrendering of 46 terrorists.
Major General Michael Onoja, the Director of Defence Media Operation (DDMO) disclosed this while briefing journalists on the activities of the country’s military against insurgents that have been disturbing the peace for more than a decade now.
Major General Onoja, at the briefing on Friday disagreed with suggestion that the situation in the country appears to be a resurgence or infiltration of terrorists in recent times with mass attacks in some part of the country.
He said that what we are witnessing are pockets of terrorists under intense pressures from troops targeting vulnerable soft targets merely to cause panic.
He said that with the continued intense pressures mounted on the terrorists there are already manifest signs that they are being weared out.
According to him, “in an era marked by dynamic security challenges, troops have shown extraordinary resilience and unwavering effort and successes across diverse operational theatres.”
The director also said that the troops are maintaining domain operations, leveraging advanced intelligence, inter-agency collaboration, and community partnerships to dismantle threats posed by terrorists, kidnappers and economic saboteurs.
He said that, for instance , a new Joint Task Force Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD recently set up in Kwara and Niger states has begun operations and are fighting terrorists in their hideouts in forests and border terrains.
Operating under
“Intelligence-driven offensives neutralized scores of terrorists, rescued several hostages, and recovered substantial arms during a fierce engagement on 18 February 2026 along the Kainji-Kwimo road in Magama LGA, Niger State.”
The director also said Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD”has launched fighting patrols into forested areas in collaboration with the state government, focusing on areas used as criminal sanctuaries.”